rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
122
Other
In January 2009 the media reported on a
seizure by PNG police of US$250 million in
counterfeit notes and a quantity of powder
suspected to be methamphetamine or
cocaine. In addition, 10 kilograms of marijuana
were seized. 591 Furthermore, it has been
estimated that there are 7500 injecting drug
users in PNG. 592
10.4 Licit drug trends
Since independence in 1975 legislative responses
have recognised the high rates of
alcohol consumption. Offences for drunkenness
include violence and damage. In addition,
provisions allow police to protect
drunken individuals from harming themselves
or doing harm to others by taking
them into custody for up to 12 hours. Prior
to independence, a campaign for the rights
of the indigenous people to drink was undertaken.
In a 1988 paper reviewing the development
of alcohol consumption patterns
and conceiving appropriate public health responses,
Mac Marshall flagged the long-term
issues facing PNG. 593 At the time he advocated
establishment of a national body to
address the problem. The paper also considered
the debilitating effects of methanol
consumption and the cultural determinants
for this behaviour. 594 An important consideration
for PNG when developing a response
to drug issues is the historical origins of a
culture of defiance of prohibitions.
Alcohol
Papua New Guinea is renowned for its ‘culture
of intoxication’. In response, local and
provincial communities have often adopted
a prohibitionist approach to alcohol consumption
to address local issues of concern.
Lack of program evaluations means there is
little evidence for the effectiveness or other
impacts of such responses. However, possible
associated consequences include the increased
production of illegal homebrews and
consumption of non-beverage alcohol and
the resultant risk factors. However, the early
impacts of prohibition in PNG as described
by Marshall suggest negative responses. 595
Destructive consumption patterns continue
to be an issue in PNG at times, threatening
development, employment and general
prosperity. This is evidenced by cases such
as a multi-billion dollar gold project at Hidden
Valley in Bulolo, Morobe, where it was
reported that the project could be forced to
cease operations if law and order problems
persisted. 596 Full-scale production is scheduled
to commence in June 2009, providing
591 US$250 million in counterfeit money, plus cocaine and methamphetamine found in PNG, Radio
New Zealand International, 29 January 2009. Available at: (accessed February 2009).
592 International Harm Reduction Association (2006), Regional Overview: Oceania. Available at:
.
593 M. Marshall (1988), Alcohol consumption as a public health problem in Papua New Guinea.
International Journal of the Addictions, 23(6): 573–589.
594 Ibid.
595 Ibid.
596 Harmony Gold warns about law and order problems. Pacific Magazine, August 2008. Available at:
.